Education

Ph.D. Biology (2006), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain 

B.S. Biology (2001), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Research Interests

Her research interests are in the fields of Food, Energy and Environmental Security with major focus on improving the environmental sustainability and resilience of agricultural land. She strives to help develop strategies that are sustainable from an ecological and environmental perspective, and that are profitable and socially accepted. 

Her research approach uses a variety of tools to measure an array of biogeochemical processes across multiple spatial and temporal scales including stable isotopes along with plant, soil, and ecosystem gas exchange methods as well as the use of large-scale tools such as eddy covariance methods, process-based modeling and remote sensing. 

She has published numerous articles in esteemed journals including Science of the Total Environment, Global Change Biology, Ecological Applications and Journal of Geophysical Research, and she is Editor of Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. She has been successful at engaging with diverse stakeholders including industry, business and communities through her research work at commercial and private ranches. Nuria has been awarded numerous grants from both private and federal funding for a total of over $12.2 M since 2016. 

Education

B.A. Environmental Studies - Biology (2023), Reed College, Oregon

Research Interests

Tess's research interests include environmental sustainability, ecological restoration, and ecophysiology. She is particularly interested in the influences of human behavior on the natural world and the development of methods to reduce detrimental anthropogenic impact. She is particularly drawn to projects that look at ecology through an interdisciplinary lens, incorporating chemistry, geology, economics, politics, and/or social justice.

She wrote her undergraduate thesis about investigating the relationship between urban refugia and dieback of native cedars in the pacific northwest. She has designed and run experiments looking at different environmental stressors and their impact on the physiological health of various plant species. She has also worked with the Forest Service on a project monitoring grassland demographics in varying drought and grazing conditions.

She is proud to contribute to work that supports a sustainable future in which people can peacefully coexist with the planet that is our home.

Education:

Ph.D. in Ecology (2020), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

M.Sc. in Botany (2014), Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

Research Interests:

His research interests encompass a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from terrestrial ecosystems. He is particularly focused on unraveling the processes that drive the production and consumption of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), within soil and plant systems. By integrating field measurements, laboratory experiments, and advanced modeling techniques, he seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of how soil and plant interactions contribute to greenhouse gas fluxes. His aim is to contribute to global efforts in combating climate change by providing scientific solutions that can be implemented at the farm, regional, and global levels. 

Education

Ph.D. (2020) Ecology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China

M.Sc. (2012) Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Research Interests

Adugna’s primary research focuses on biogeochemical cycling, particularly the dynamics of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus pools, enzyme activity, and resource stoichiometry in terrestrial ecosystems. Adugna is also interested in investigating the impact of land management on greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O, and H2O vapor) at the ecosystem level, which is essential for assessing management strategies for climate change mitigation. His research employs a combination of laboratory and field-based methodologies, utilizing tools such as stable isotope analysis, eddy covariance, and modeling.

Adugna has authored and co-authored articles published in peer-reviewed journals, including Science of the Total Environment, Catena, Forest Ecology and Management, Environmental Research, and Land Degradation and Development. He has over five years of experience in higher education, teaching introductory and advanced courses in Ecology and Environmental Science to UG students. Additionally, Adugna has served as the head of the college and later as the university registrar at Ambo University in Ethiopia for approximately two and a half years.

Education

Ph.D (2023) Indian Institute of Technology, Dhanbad, India

M.Sc. (2016) Environmental Science, Calcutta University

Interests

Her research interests cover the field of Ecological Restoration and its Evaluation, Environmental Biogeochemistry, and Soil Science with major focus on Sustainable Land Management and promote Circular Economy. During her doctoral research, she has focused on the ecological restoration of degraded lands under diverse climatic conditions (coal mine overburden dumps, industrial solid waste dump) and development of a comprehensive approach to quantify how effective restoration programs are. Recently she is focusing on the impact of land conversion on GHG emission and biogeochemical fluxes to assess climate change mitigation potential of bioenergy crops.

Her research approach encompasses modern skill and expertise in recovery of soil fertility (nutrient stock, carbon sequestration, soil respiration), multidisciplinary approaches to evaluate restoration success (indexing, metagenomics), real-world solutions to soil health challenges, and to alleviate GHG emission upon land conversion at different spatio-temporal scale. She has proficiency with a variety of sophisticated instruments including CHNS analyzer, ICP-OES, Soil CO2 Flux as well as the application of statistical, machine learning algorithms, and remote sensing.

She has published numerous articles and book chapters in peer reviewed journals including Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Ecological Engineering, Forests, and International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. She has been engaged as a potential reviewer of Journal of Environmental Management, SN Applied Sciences, and Geocarto International. She has worked on various academic R&D consultancy projects for environmental clearance. Besides, she worked as trainee officer at National Remote Sensing Centre (ISRO), India during her doctoral program. 

Education

B.A. Biology: Ecology and Evolution (2024), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Research Interests

Alana’s research interests surround environmental sustainability and ecosystem dynamics. She is specifically interested in soil ecology and human impacts on soil conservation. She is very excited about agricultural ecosystems and especially loves earthworms and their effects on soil. Her passions in research involve meeting the needs of the growing population while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Alana’s past research experience has included multiple diverse projects, including work with disease ecology, freshwater ecosystems, and fire ecology in a variety of labs. Since joining the Gomez-Casanovas lab, she has been working on projects assessing the environmental impact of growing cold tolerant varieties of energycane and the outcomes of different residue management strategies on cane cultivation.

Pritika’s research interests focus on addressing challenges related to climate change, food security, and sustainable agriculture. With a background in plant breeding and genetics, her recent work has concentrated on increasing agricultural productivity and economic viability. Pritika has also investigated the efficacy of biorational compounds in managing pest populations, exploring eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides.

Currently, in Nuria's lab, she is involved in projects examining the effects of restoration practices and soil amendments on carbon cycling in Texas grasslands, studying the influence of climate-change-resilient plant traits on biogeochemistry in cane ecosystems in the Southern U.S., and exploring how utility-scale photovoltaics impact ecosystem services and soil carbon dynamics in rangelands. This transition allows her to leverage her expertise in plant breeding to contribute to innovative, interdisciplinary research that addresses climate change, sustainable energy, and ecosystem resilience—expanding her impact from crop improvement to the sustainability of entire ecosystems.

Education

Bachelor’s of Science (2021):  Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology - Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University.

Research Interests

Tanner is passionate about land stewardship and maintaining soil health as the basis of conservation. Specifically, he is passionate about how grassland restoration aligns with climate sustainability through soil carbon dynamics. Currently he is researching how woody encroachment in grasslands influences long-term Carbon sequestration. His goal is to contribute to the understanding of how practical land management practices influence C-sequestration.

Tanner has worked in the private consulting sector as a technician for petroleum remediation as well as within the Natural Heritage Program at the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Coming from a diverse background of wildlife and environmental remediation has influenced Tanner in his current research.

Education

Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture (Honours), 2022

Punjab Agricultural University

India

Research Interests

Khushboo’s research interests include soil carbon dynamics and how even small changes in our soils affect the environment at large. She wants to understand the symbiotic relationship between soil ecosystems, agricultural practices, and climate dynamics. She is particularly passionate about investigating how sustainable soil management practices can mitigate the impacts of climate change and contribute to a healthier environment for future generations.

Khushboo's research journey encompasses a focus on soil testing, fertility, and crop response. Her studies delve into the intricate connection between soil health and agricultural practices. Since becoming a part of the Gomez-Casanovas lab, she has dedicated her efforts to projects that investigate how cold tolerant sugarcane and its alternative residue management practices in cane farming can have different ecological implications.

She believes that we came from soil, and we will eventually go back to soil. So for the very brief time she has on this planet, she wants to contribute something remarkable towards our soils and environment. 

Education 

Bachelors of Science (2022): Rangeland Ecology and Management - Utah State University

Research Interests

Cole is interested in the connections between above-ground and below-ground processes and how they shape plant communities, plant productivity, soil ecology, and overall soil health. He is particularly focused on the intersection of agriculture and ecology, with an emphasis on microbial ecology and plant ecophysiology, especially in how resources flow through ecosystems. By deepening his understanding of soil health and management practices that enhance soil fertility, Cole aims to positively impact ecosystem health, agricultural producers and the broader community.

Cole’s work has consistently focused on restoring degraded landscapes, with an emphasis on building resilient ecosystems and linking ecosystem health to community well-being. He has had the opportunity to work in environments heavily impacted by pollution and ecological degradation, including overgrazed rangelands dominated by invasive species in the great basin, large-scale urban construction sites contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals, and eastern hardwood forests polluted by radioactive isotopes from nuclear materials production. These experiences have deepened his understanding of below-ground processes and fostered a deep appreciation for soil ecosystems. This background has shaped his bottom-up approach to ecological restoration, which he applies across diverse systems and contexts.

• PhD graduate Student (2022-current), Virginia Tech 

• Field and Lab Specialist (2020-2022), University of Illinois

• MS (2020) SUNY ESF

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